GMR issue provokes no confidence motion in Maldives

Even as the President of Maldives Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik continues to maintain that the GMR airport issue is purely contractual and nothing else, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) sees nothing but politics in it.

Fighting the issue politically, the party on Thursday moved a no-confidence motion in Parliament against defence (and acting transport) minister Mohamed Nazim, the front man for the ruling party in annulling the contract.

The controversial GMR contract was signed during the MDP regime headed by former President Mohamed Nasheed.

MDP moved a no-confidence motion in Parliament against defence (and acting transport) minister Mohamed Nazim, the front man for the ruling party in annulling the contract. AFP

Quoting MDP, the online edition of Maldivian daily Haveeru reported on Friday morning that the motion was filed because the minister “has abused his authority as the Acting Transport Minister by using military influence to terminate civil contracts involving the government outside of the legal process.”

Nazim was a member of the ministerial committee that evaluated the controversial agreement with GMR.

“The opposition party has also accused Nazim of authorizing wire taps on Judges, Parliament members and foreign diplomats in Maldives and invading the privacy of such high level officials,” Haveeru said.